So I'm posting this because SACarter FINALLY posted the chapter for Secrets I've been waiting for patiently (just kidding- I'm not patient at all for it). So you can thank you for this chapter :)

Chapter Quote:
"We could run away. I'd stay with you."

Chapter 4

Elsa

Caleb was barely coming out of his room, causing me to become really worried. I voiced this to Ember but she simply dismissed it as saying he was simply still upset over what Hunter said. I couldn't believe my oldest brother had said that. I mean I know that Caleb was there when Anna had died, and I know he hadn't been able to save her, but I didn't blame him. He was only twelve when it happened! How was he supposed to win against three guys that were each three times his size?

I was hanging out in the living room when Caleb entered the room. He tensed slightly before he realized it was me.

"Hey Ice Princess," he greeted with a little smirk. That was his nickname for me. He was the only one I ever allowed to call me that. "What are you watching?"

"Something about World War II. What are you doing?" I asked as he plopped down next to me.

"Working, studying, the usual. Thought I'd come down and take a break, see what my little sis was doing."

"The usual. I have to head out later because I have class, but I think I'm going to quit soon. I've learned mostly everything I can. I just wanted to learn how to defend myself."

"I think you could kick any one of our asses," Caleb laughed.

"Who could kick our asses?" Ember queried, sliding into the room on her socks.

"Me and my martial arts training," I replied.

"Well you probably could. Maybe not dad or Loren or Shiloh, but everyone else? Oh yeah."

"What are you doing today?"

"Noah, Thea, Diana, Riley, Jake, and I are heading down to town. And by heading down I mean we're going to freak out some tourists because it's always fun to see their reactions. I know you can't join Elsa but what about you Caleb?"

"I'm in, but I'm probably going to make a quick trip to the store. I want some snacks and mom is going on one of her health sprees. I know it'll only last a week or two but I want food. Good, fattening food."

"No arguments there. Think you could pick up some ice cream for me?"

"Sure. I'm going to head back up and work but call me when you're heading out."

"Okey doke," Ember said.

"Do you think he's okay?" I questioned quietly after my brother had gone upstairs.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know… I just feel like I don't see him much anymore."

"Tell him."

"I don't want to be annoying."

"Caleb adores you Elsa. You're his baby sister. You're the baby sister for all of us. Even if something was bothering us, we probably wouldn't tell you."

"Excuse me?"

"We wouldn't want to trouble you. Besides, what on earth could possibly bother a Guardian? I mean other than psychos who want to kill us."

I loved how Ember always tried to bring humor, even the slightest, into a conversation that wasn't a cheerful topic. She always offered comedic relief and it helped. But she also knew the limits of when to say something and when not to say something so it wouldn't be offensive. I loved my sister.

Ember started to leave but turned around. "I thought of something else. Caleb's almost done with ninth grade. I bet you anything he's stressing about finals. Don't worry, all right Elsa?"

"I can't promise, but I'll try," I said.

"I know that's all I'll get out of you. See you later!" She darted up the stairs. Deciding I didn't want to be alone, I headed outside and into Josilyn's garden. If you wanted to find her, her garden was the first place to check. She was always there.

"Josie?" I called out.

"I'm at the gazebo!" she hollered back. I made my way over there. She was sitting on the hanging chair in the gazebo, reading a book. Josilyn smiled at me. "Hi!"

"Hey, what're you doing?"

"Reading. You?"

"Wanted someone to talk to. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she said, placing her book down.

"If you knew something was bothering Noah, what would you do?"

"I'd ask him."

"And if he lied saying nothing was wrong even though there obviously is something wrong?"

"I'd let him be, let him tell me in my own time. But you know me. I don't like any sort of confrontation. Why?"

"I'm worried about Caleb… he's been acting weird lately. I can't explain. I just know. Now, my second question: how are you feeling?"

"What do you mean?" Josie's guard was up instantly. She knew exactly what I was referring to, she just didn't want to admit it. It was a sensitive subject for her.

"Your heart. I heard it flutter. Is your medication still working?"

She bit her lip. "I think so. I've been tired more often lately, I get out of breath more easily with everyday tasks."

"Have you told your parents?"

"No… I don't want to cause a scene. Everyone panics when I show the slightest sign of being unwell."

"This is also your health we're talking about. No one cares if you make a scene." I sighed. "But I get it. If you don't want your parents to make a scene, talk to my mom. She'll handle it. I think your mom would understand. It's your dad who's always been the drama king of your family."

Josie laughed. Her father, Shiloh, was my mom's second. He was a big, buff, shorter than the other male adults (not by much), and stocky. He was pure strength and was the last person anyone wanted to mess with next to my father, mother, and Loren Hess. Loren was my father's second. He'd been my mother's at some point, but none of us really knew that story. My parents didn't delve into their past much with us.

"He worries about me more than he should. I'll take your advice and talk to your mom. But back to Caleb. Maybe he won't say what's wrong to you because he doesn't want to worry you. Maybe he'd tell someone he's not that close to? I can try. I'll bring him flowers to cheer him up too. What color does he like?" Josilyn got up and made her way to the red roses that encircled the gazebo.

"Uh, I think he'll take anything."

"I'll give him one of every color. I'll bring some for your mom too!" I let Josie do her work with the flowers. I couldn't be trusted around flowers. I had no green thumb whatsoever. Actually, the only green thumb in the family was Josilyn. No one knew where she got it from. My mom could keep flowers alive longer than most, but even she couldn't keep them alive like the Josie.

After ten minutes and two bundles of roses tied up with ribbon, the two of us headed back to my house. My mom was sitting at the bar in the kitchen using her laptop. She looked up when we entered the room.

"Hello you two. Who are the roses for?" My mom asked.

I nudged Josie to encourage her. She got way too shy sometimes. "Um, these are for you and Ren and Caleb. Ember, Hunter, and Elsa already have some in their room. I thought maybe you three should have some too."

"Thank you! I'll get a vase for them. Now, you have a look on your face that says you need to ask me something. What is it?"

Josilyn gulped. Feeling that she was freezing up, I explained, "She's been getting tired more often. She wants to see a doctor to see what's wrong but doesn't want to create a scene."

"By creating a scene, you mean having Shiloh find out?" My mom chuckled. "I get it. I love Shiloh but he is such a drama king sometimes. I'll talk to your mom. We'll make an excuse to go down to Denver and have you checked out. Just you, me, and your mother. And Elsa if you want her to come."

"It'd look less suspicious if I came along," I pointed out.

"All right. Let me plan everything. Don't worry sweetie, we'll get this sorted out. Now do you want me to bring those flowers to Caleb or do you?"

"I-I'll do it. And thank you Mrs. Laroche!"

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Arya? We're family, Josilyn. No formalities here," my mom said kindly.

"Yes ma'am."

Josilyn

I knocked politely on Caleb's door, wondering if he'd even let me talk to him. I didn't really know what I was doing. I was not one to directly ask people what was wrong unless it was Hunter, Elsa, or Noah. I was closest to them, Noah for the obvious reason that he's my brother. Elsa and I were the same age and had always hung out. Hunter, for an unknown reason, had always been protective of me. I'm not saying I minded. I liked the oldest Laroche. A lot.

"You can come in," Caleb said. I opened the door.

"Hi," I said sweetly.

I could see the confusion on his face, probably from trying to figure out what I was doing here. "I brought you flowers. I realized I hadn't really seen you much since that fight you and Hunter got into. I thought these would cheer you up."

The Laroche boy smiled and took the flowers from me. "Thank you Josilyn. I'll find a vase for them."

"So how are you doing? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"Did Elsa put you up to this? She's been asking me every time she sees me if I'm okay."

"She's worried about you after what Hunter said. So my question…"

"There's not much to talk about. It's the same old stuff going on," he admitted, sitting in his chair and leaning back. I hesitated before sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Do you want me to talk to him? I don't know if he'll even listen to me… I think he's mad at me actually."

"No, don't talk to him. And he is far from mad at you. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. He hasn't been much for conversation lately and I don't know if it's only me of if he's doing it to everyone."

"He's been doing it to everyone. My mom gave him a really harsh scolding after we argued. He's been kind of quiet since. I don't know what she said but whatever it was did a number on him." He leaned forward, seeming genuinely interested in my pathetic crush on Hunter. Only he and Elsa knew about it. I hid the secret well. And Hunter was an alpha. He would go for someone who could keep up with him. Not someone like… well, me.

"Can I ask you a question?" I inquired bashfully.

"Shoot."

"… Do you see me as below you?"

"No. Why?" His eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

"Please don't tell Elsa or Hunter, but I've just been feeling down lately…"

"Like heart problems? Or like depression?" Caleb's voice took on a serious tone, making me wonder if he'd dealt with someone who had depression before.

"Elsa already knows that I've been having trouble breathing lately but I keep feeling that everyone looks down on me," I confessed.

"We worry about you. Looking down on and worrying are two very different things. Don't confuse our worry and caring for you with believing we're looking down on you. We're not."

"I don't like being the weakest link though."

"You're a Guardian, Josilyn. You're hardly the weakest link. You're not even the omega. That's Akira. Don't over-analyze things. Trust me, it makes nothing better."

"But I'll never be able to be with someone like your brother."

Caleb snorted. "Why not? You'd be good for him."

"I'm not alpha material," I remarked.

"You don't have to be."

"What if he becomes alpha, Caleb? And in the event I manage to get with him, then I'd have to be."

"A pack can have only one alpha. My mom ran the pack by herself before my dad came along and did just fine. Besides, he'd have Noah as his second. You'd be fine."

"I don't know…"

"My brother has enough… alphaness in him. He needs someone like you to calm him down," Caleb said.

"You think so?" I replied, trying not to sound too hopeful. I didn't want to get my hopes up that Hunter might actually like me in more ways than a friend.

"Pretty sure we all do," he said, a grin spreading across his face.

"What?!" I exclaimed.

"It is no secret around here he has a crush on you." He was trying not to laugh but I could tell it wasn't because he was lying. It was because he was honestly enjoying my reaction to not knowing this. And probably his brother didn't want me knowing and if he could spill the beans on his brother, he was going to jump at the chance to.

"Are you serious?"

"Oh, and your crush on him is obvious too. You both do not understand the term 'subtlety'."

"Oh my god," I groaned. Well so much for me hiding that secret well.

"And you're both completely oblivious."

"I'm going to die." It was an exaggeration but it was the only one I could think of that sufficed for how I was feeling about this revelation.

"Please don't…" Caleb said.

"So he likes me?" I repeated what I already knew but I wanted hear him say it again. It was so unbelievable.

"Yes. I thought we established that."

I got up and started pacing from excitement. "This is so- my heart can't handle this!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I don't want your heart exploding or something. Hunter would never forgive me for that."

"Oh my- I didn't mean literally! I'm sorry!"

Caleb smiled. "I shouldn't have said something like that. I don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't probably. Look, he's going to be coming into the house any minute. Why don't you go greet him?"

"I'm going to panic but I'm going to do it. Thank you so much Caleb!"

"What is family for?"

"I'll bring you more flowers!" I offered. "For helping me!"

He laughed and shook his head. "Just go confess your undying love for each other."

"Oh shush." I lightly hit him on the arm. That only made his grin become bigger.

Two weeks later…

The next couple of weeks had been a blur. School ended for the year. Ember and Jake graduated eighth grade. I'd tried talking to Hunter to get him to admit his crush on me but that had failed, leaving me disheartened. Caleb and Hunter got into another fight. It was stupid, over a piece of meat from one of the deer they'd killed. I hadn't been there to see it but Elsa told me about it. Caleb sported a black eye. Hunter had one hell of a bruised cheek. If it was possible, the former became even more reclusive, only coming out of his room for dinner or if his parents forced him to go out with them. He was quiet and you could see that he was deep in thought. About what though, no one knew.

I was working in my garden when Noah, in wolf form, came charging into my garden. He tripped over a rock which caused him to go skidding into the rosebushes, destroying two or three of them.

"Noah!" I chided, walking over to him. He shifted forms and looked at his scraped up arms with annoyance.

"Why the hell do roses have thorns? They're supposed to be pretty, not painful," he said.

"Is there a reason you just came charging into my garden and destroyed some of my plants."

"Sorry. The Laroches are in a panic. They can't find Caleb."

"What do you mean they can't find him?"

"I mean he's nowhere in the house, he's not picking up his cell phone, and his laptop, some clothes, and a duffel bag are missing. We don't know where he is. That's the definition of missing."

"How can you add humor into this? If Caleb's missing, this is no time to be joking!"

Noah looked ashamed but said, "It's the only way I know how to avoid worrying more than I already am. Ren's taken Ember, Rigg, Riley, and Thea with him to search the southern side of the territory. Arya took Erin, Elsa, Gracie, and Dmitri with her to patrol the western side. Shiloh brought Laurel, Barry, Oliver, and Akira with him to look in the east. Loren took Melinda, Jake, Sebastian, and Diana to look in the north. Hunter and the others are all downtown trying to see if anyone's seen or heard from him. I'm meeting him down there."

"Oh my god… what can I do to help?"

"Ren wants you in his house near the phone in case Caleb decides to call."

"I can do that. But Noah… what if he's run away? What if he doesn't want to be found?"

"That's what I'm worried about."

Later that day…

It was ten at night by the time the entire pack was back at the compound. I'd sat next to the phone the entirety of the day, and if I needed the bathroom, I brought the phone with me. If Caleb called, I wanted to make sure I'd be able to answer it. But he hadn't. Mrs. Laroche was panicking. She hid it on the outside, remaining seemingly calm and in control. Her pounding heart and pale face gave her away though. I felt bad for her. She'd already lost a daughter. Now she'd lost a son.

Hunter came and sat next to me, appearing shaken. I think he blamed himself for his younger brother running off. Sure he'd been harsh, but so harsh that it made Caleb want to leave? I had a hard time believing that. Of course I'd never seen a real argument between them…

Elsa's eyes were bloodshot. Ember had her arm around her sister, trying to comfort her. Ember didn't look much better though. She was visibly shaking, albeit slightly.

My brother sat between the two of us. I'd never seen him so quiet. Noah was always so full of life, always pretty cocky but not in an obnoxious way, always trying to bring humor to the situation (when it was appropriate). He was similar to Ember in that way. I think that's why they got along so well.

Ren and Shiloh were the last to enter the house. Mr. Laroche remained calm as he walked up to his wife. She glanced at him hopefully but I could tell she knew there was nothing to be hopeful for.

"Any news?" Arya queried.

Ren shook his head. "No. Riley picked up his scent that headed into town but it disappeared. We think it was from so many people walking over it."

"Diana picked up his scent in the north. I think he made a circle to throw us off, but it was a weak scent so here's my theory-" Loren said. "- either Caleb went a different direction that we didn't pick up or he left in the middle of the night so he could get a head start because he knew we'd search for him."

"Has anyone tried calling him again?" Arya asked.

"I'll try again," Hunter offered. He pulled out his phone and while the others discussed what else they should do and where else they should look, Thea piped up telling everyone to shush. We all looked at her questioningly but she held up her finger, adding, "Hunter, call Caleb's phone again."

The oldest Laroche boy pressed call again. A few seconds later, there was a faint but distinct sound of a phone buzzing. Arya was already halfway up the stairs before anyone else registered that Caleb's phone was in the house. I was hoping he was there with it, but I had a dreading sense that he wasn't. His scent lingered in the house. However, if he'd been in the house recently, it would've been stronger than it was. I waited downstairs with the others as the Laroches were upstairs. It seemed like everyone knew what the outcome was going to be.

Sure enough, when the family came down, I felt myself tear up. I've been alive for eleven years, and while in reality that's not long, and while I only remember about seven or eight of those years, never once did I recall seeing Arya Laroche cry. I knew she cried when half her pack was murdered by a heinous group of people, but I was only a year old when that happened.

"Arya…" Loren began.

She held up her hand, cutting him off. Taking a deep breath, she said, "We will not stop looking for him. I don't know where he went, or why he left, but we're going to bring him home. Everyone is dismissed. The children will resume their regular activities tomorrow. The adults are going to go to the police, see what they can do to help us. Mostly everyone filed out, but Ren called out for the seconds and their children to stay. Loren, Shiloh, Melinda, Carrie, Riley, Gracie, Noah, and I obediently stayed.

"The reason I asked you to stay is because you were all pretty close to Caleb. Did he give you any hint or inkling of where he could go?" Arya questioned.

"I mean we all saw how quiet he'd become and he is still upset over Anna because he's never forgiven himself for her but I didn't know it was that bad for him," Gracie said.

"He never said anything to me about it. He's always been good with secrets though, whether they were someone else's or his own," Riley added.

"He seemed fine when we went hunting. He acted normal, maybe quiet but not worrisome," Noah commented. I stayed quiet. I knew how badly Caleb had been hurting from his brother's comments but by the expression on Hunter's face, anyone could see he blamed himself for Caleb leaving because he knew how upset Caleb was too.

"If anything comes to you, or if anyone else comes up with something that could help, let us know, okay?" Ren ordered. We all nodded. I hung back and asked to talk to Hunter. He did as I requested although I could tell he really wanted to be alone.

"You okay?" he asked, looking down at me. He was already five-foot eleven. He would definitely end up becoming six foot or taller.

"The question is are you okay?"

"My brother is gone and I know it's because of me. I still blame him but I realize now that my family was right. I shouldn't have yelled at him so much for it. I got so caught up in my anger that I- I couldn't…"

"You're an alpha, Hunter," I consoled. "Alphas are harder to control and to tell what to do."

"I couldn't help it Josilyn. I really couldn't." He ran a hand through his hair. "When we find him, I'm going to apologize. I have to."

"Then let's find him," I encouraged. Hunter gave me his million-dollar smile before pulling me into a hug.

Hope you enjoyed the long chapter! It was fun to finally get this show on the road where the real adventure begins. Please review :)